When Aeetes openly stated that the Golden Fleece was tied to his very life by divine oracle, the negotiations immediately became difficult.
For Jason, obtaining the Golden Fleece now meant endangering Aeetes' life.
To reclaim his throne by bringing harm to someone completely unrelated, this was not something praiseworthy, even for Jason, whose heart carried all kinds of untamed impulses.
Therefore, if Aeetes declined his request on such grounds, Jason couldn't even bring himself to consider force.
What value would the so-called Argonauts have, if they were the kind who exchanged the life of an innocent for personal benefit? How could such people be called heroes at all?
Even so, he still had something to say.
"Honorable King Aeetes, please believe me, I have absolutely no intention of harming your life.
The reason I came to the island of Colchis is not merely due to my longing for the throne, but because of divine instruction.
It was by the gods' revelation that my uncle assigned me this task, and with the gods' assistance I gained the Argo to set sail.
Because of this, I believe that obtaining the Golden Fleece is an act acknowledged by the gods.
You say the Golden Fleece is tied to your life, but why would the gods wish to take your life? There must be some misunderstanding."
Jason then introduced his companions to Aeetes.
Many of them bore divine blood. Children of gods often acted under divine direction, and with so many divine offspring gathered here joining his expedition, it naturally implied something.
At this point, the two sides reached an impasse.
Aeetes heard Jason speak of receiving an oracle from the Olympians as well.
Yet he knew that although he himself was the son of the previous Sun God and the Oceanid, and thus a demigod, he was not someone favored or protected by the Olympian pantheon.
Quite the opposite, if the Olympian gods saw him as a thorn in their side, a nail in their flesh, Aeetes would believe it without hesitation.
He even wanted to retort directly: 'How do you know the gods don't want to take my life?'
Unfortunately, even he could not say such a thing aloud.
For although the magical pantheon sheltered him, the Olympians were still, in name, the rulers of this world.
According to the division of domains between the magical pantheon and the Olympian pantheon, the magical pantheon governed the Weave and mages, but mortals and mortal kingdoms still fell under Olympian jurisdiction.
Even his parents, before fully breaking with Olympus, had once been counted among their ranks.
There were things any mage could speak recklessly, but he could not.
Otherwise, even his parents might suffer for it.
Looking at Jason before him, Aeetes felt a deep swell of emotion.
At times, he truly envied those mages. Under the protection of the mighty God of Magic, they alone were truly free.
People like him, though possessing wealth and power others envied, were often bound hand and foot, forced to worry about matters far beyond what mortals could imagine.
At the same time, he sharply sensed that this expedition of Jason and the Greek heroes before him was likely not a simple mortal prince seeking treasure to reclaim his throne.
Behind them, perhaps the gods were weaving a plan.
The Golden Fleece and his life were both part of that plan.
But what was the gods' true intention?
To strike at him and his parents?
To weaken the gods of the previous age, those who once ruled the Greek divine realm?
To purge remnants of the old dynasty?
Or was there a deeper intent, aimed at the true owner of this island, the magical pantheon that sheltered him?
Aeetes could not see through it, could not understand.
But he knew this much: if these heroes truly came in accordance with divine will, then as king he absolutely could not kill them without cause.
Otherwise, he would be handing the Olympian gods a perfect pretext against him.
Yet he could not simply reject their request for the Golden Fleece, either.
Because they had invoked an oracle. If he flatly refused, wouldn't that mean defying divine will?
After much thought, Aeetes arrived at only one solution,
Delay.
Delay his decision, buy time to think, to communicate with his divine parents, perhaps even find a chance to consult the people of the Mistra Academy, after all, while he could not afford to offend the Olympian gods, the Mistra Academy certainly had no reason to fear them.
With this thought, his mood eased slightly. He addressed Jason:
"Since you, too, have an oracle from the Olympians, I naturally cannot lightly defy the gods. However, my oracle also exists.
Therefore, I need some time to consider how best to resolve this matter. Would you be able to accept that?"
Hearing Aeetes' reply, Jason finally breathed out in relief.
At least he did not refuse.
Although Jason's journey had indeed been guided by divine instruction, and although Athena herself had aided in the construction of the Argo, had any god explicitly told him he must obtain the Golden Fleece? He had no definite answer.
To persuade Aeetes and counter his statements about divine will, Jason had been forced to improvise, implying vaguely that he too had an oracle, using one oracle to pressure another.
Bringing up his demigod crew was also a way to borrow divine prestige and press forward.
Clearly, the strategy had worked at last.
At least Aeetes was no longer firmly refusing.
To Jason, as long as the other side was still willing to talk, there was room for negotiation.
He could tempt Aeetes with future benefits, if he became king of Thessaly, he would have many ways to compensate him, and the power of the Argonauts could also be of use to Aeetes.
As long as the answer was not an outright refusal, there was still hope.
Thinking this, Jason nodded readily.
"Of course, Your Majesty Aeetes. Careful deliberation before action is the mark of wisdom. But may I ask, when might we receive your answer?
We have traveled far. Though the kingdom of Colchis is beautiful, we cannot stay indefinitely."
"Then, how about tonight?" After some thought, Aeetes made his decision.
"I would ask that you return to your ship for now and gather your companions.
Tonight, I shall host a banquet to welcome our distinguished guests. During the banquet, I will announce my decision publicly. Would that be agreeable to you?"
Naturally, Jason voiced no objection.
For him, an afternoon was not too.
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